WARNING! This presentation will discuss banned books and why they are awesome. Proceed with caution…

What Is A Banned Book? Banned books are ones that have been removed from a library or school curriculum due to its content. Challenged books are ones that people have requested to be removed from a library or school but remained on the shelves. Books have been banned since the beginning of time…or the written word. They are still being banned today.

Reasons for Banning… Promotes witchcraft Violence Satanism Anti-family Burned in 2002 in New Mexico for being “a masterpiece of satanic deception.” “Harry Potter is the devil and he is destroying people.”

Reasons for Banning… “A real downer” Sexual content Homosexual content

Reasons for Banning… Sexist “Criminalized the foresting agency”

Reasons for Banning… Banned in USSR under Stalin’s rule for being anti-communist. (You’d have been arrested if you were caught reading it.) Pro-communist Sexual content

Reasons for Banning… Irreligious Satanic Enjoyed smoking too much

Reasons for Banning… Infanticide Mind control Use of the word “clairvoyance” Themes of murder, suicide Promoted adolescent pill-popping

Reasons for Banning… Racist Offensive Language “Trash suitable only for the slums”

Reasons for Banning… Language Sexually explicit Most Challenged Book of 2015 (John Green has admitted that this book was written with Christian themes.)

Reasons for Banning… Language Burns the Bible

Reasons for Banning… “Morbid and depressing” Anti-business Language Sexual Content

Timeline of Bannings… Bannings: Ireland (1953); Syracuse, IN (1974); Oil City, PA (I977); Grand Blanc, MI (1979); Continental, OH (1980); Scottsboro, AL High School (1983); Alabama High School (1989); Arkansas High School (1989); Florida High School (1991); Ohio High School (1992); Tennessee School District (1994); Illinois High School (1997); Florida School District (1997); Mississippi School District (2002); Challenges: Greenville, SC (1977); NY School District (1980); St. David, AZ (1981); Tell City, IN (1982); Marion County, WV School District (1988); Illinois Middle School (1988); Michigan High School (1988); Chattanooga, TN (1989); Tennessee School District (1989); Kansas High School (1990); California High School (1991); Texas School District (1990); Pennsylvania High School (1991); Tennessee High School (1991); Virginia High Schools (1991); Iowa High School (1992); Florida School District (1992); California High School (1992); Louisiana School (1992); Arizona High School (1993); Georgia High School (1994); Kansas High School (1995); Minnesota High School (1995); Georgia High School (1995); Virginia High School (1995); Ohio High School (1997); Minnesota High School (1997); California Middle School (1998); Arkansas School (1998); Wisconsin School District (1998-1999); Pennsylvania High School (1999); Michigan High School (2002); Illinois High School (2003); Pennsylvania High School (2006); Iowa High School (2007); Kansas High School (2007); Idaho High School (2015).

2015 Challenge of Of Mice and Men Challenged in Idaho, 9th Grade “Neither a quality story nor a page turner.” Objected to the language and the “negative” and “dark” themes. School Board voted (4 to 1) to have it remain on the school’s curriculum.

Why Do People Want to Ban Books? Protect you! FEAR!

“Yes, books are dangerous. They should be dangerous—they contain ideas Pete Hautman Ideas Knowledge Power!

What do you think? Should all books be available to everyone? Or should some be banned?

Risks/Rewards Does the book teach me something of value? Do the positives outweigh the negatives? How do I feel when I read this book?

Self-censoring (Stop it/Skip it.) No one can force you to read something offensive or uncomfortable. If you don’t like it, STOP reading it. Or SKIP over certain parts. Talk to your parent/guardian or teacher about difficult subject matter.

It’s Your Right! “Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.” Mark Twain People have the right to express their opinion. But you get an opinion too! You decide what is right for you!

References http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics/reasons https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/07/idaho-parents-profane-of-mice-and-men-banned-schools-john-steinbeck http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-steinbeck-censorship-attempt-idaho-20150602-story.html https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jan/01/books.harrypotter http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10#2015